Bonjour
Last Friday was 21 June and we all know what that means – summer solstice! Well in the northern hemisphere anyway. This was the weather in Cherbourg.
Summer solstice also means music festivals throughout France. We wrote about this last year (see Summer Solstice blog from 29/6/18) and this year did not disappoint. It was the same great atmosphere through town with many different bands and various musical acts singing and playing till the wee hours. Again it was friendly, lots of fun and nobody behaving badly. And the street cleaners worked through the night so that by next morning everything was back to normal.
We haven’t been tripping around since last week, but here are a few random items of things you probably didn’t know:
In France, swimming in public pools is forbidden unless you are wearing speedos or the equivalent. In case you turn up in the illegal board shorts (very unhygienic apparently), they have helpfully provided a vending machine so you can purchase something that is acceptable.
Item #2: The word “canicule” is popping up in the news this week. That’s because this weekend it is expected to get to 36 degrees in Paris and canicule translates to heatwave. Australians are used to heat, but the French – not so much. Air conditioners are rare (also unhygienic apparently) and the other big difference is that, being inland the hot air does not escape with afternoon sea breezes. We have tickets booked for Monet’s Garden on Saturday so hopefully it won’t be too hot and there will shady spots to escape the sun.
Item #3: Like many countries, the French postal system is trying to remain relevant as the amount of mail diminishes, so they have come up with a scheme called ‘Veiller sur mes parents‘ (Watch over my parents). If you sign up the postie will not just deliver your parents’ mail, but call in to check on them. You can choose how frequently they visit (one to six days a week – costing from €19.90 a month, for one visit per week, to €139.90 for six visits) After each visit they will send you a message via an app to let you know how things are and if Mum or Dad need anything. The package also comes with a duress alarm and also a reference service for approved tradies etc. What a great idea!
And finally, item #4: Did you know that musicians must audition before they are permitted to busk in the Paris Metro? With more than five million people using the Metro every day, that is a big audience and a number of well known French musicians got their first big break by performing in the Metro. Doubt that applies to those people who just on and off the trains and provide a little musical interlude while you are held captive on the train. Then they pull out their begging hats.
That’s about it for now.
A bientot
L & M
thefrenchfeed 